The Moat Bar & Café - Melbourne

Visited The Moat for a drink before going to dinner. Loved i'ts location, down bluestone stairs and into an undergound bar and restaurant. Open kitchen which smelled great, cosy tables with lamps, book shelves, nice staff. Good cocktail list and a comfortable and cosy place on a cold evening.

Hidden under the State Library, The Moat is a quiet haven from the street above. My friend invited me here for a business meeting and I quite liked the ambience. My coffee was good.

Waited outside, no one came to take a order. So I went to inside to order a chai. 20min wait, good luck for your business.

Went with a friend who treated me to a meal here and it was certainly a great treat! The restaurant has a great ambivalence, feels quite medieval with the brickwork and red carpets but also quite contemporary with the bar in the middle. Service was very good and attentive. The food itself was very enjoyable, especially the meatballs which was my highlight. If I had any complaint it would be that the farmer's plate was didn't have enough cheese with just one stingy portion. Would definitely recommend however especially for a date or other occasion.

Had a few people come in and was quite disappointed with the food overall. The coffees and service was fine though.Ordered the feta and avocado on toast, which I had previously from there but they have changed the presentation of it. Instead of a beautiful piece of thick toast with smashed avo and feta with pepitas and dukka; it is now just two thin slices of toast with an avocado cut and some feta cheese. For what they are charging I thought they would a bit more effort in. One of the other diners ordered the same thing and they forgot to add the feta...